Electric conductor



(NdModeL) L. DAPT.

ELEUTRIU CONDUCTOR- No. 320,632. Patented June 23, 1885.

invenfur: 1 of 29 MM ma Mrs TATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEO DAFT, OF GREENVILLE, NENV JERSEY.

ELECTRIC CONDUCTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part; of Letters Patent No. 320,632, dated June 23, 1885.

(No model.)

In aiZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I,-Lno DAFT, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Green ville, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Conductors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the properinsula' tion. and protection of rails or conductors for electric railways and the like, and more particularly the third rail or conductor, which is generally used for the purpose of conducting the electric current to the motor upon the vehicle running upon the exterior rails; and it consists in the construct-ion more particularly pointed out hereinafter, whereby these results are attained.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is atop plan view of a section of a rail and the insulator therefor, and Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same.

The insulator A consists of a standard composed of glass, porcelain, stoneware, or other suitable insulating material preferably having an extended and downu ardly-projeeting hood or curtain. 0n the top, or in a recessin the top, of this standard is placed the rail or conductor It, a piece or strip, a, of india-rubber, felt, wood, or other flexible material be ing interposed between the ties.

The rail is secured to the insulator by any suitable mechanical means-as by bolts B B, passing through holes in the feet of the rails and the insulator, where they are secured by nuts 0 C, placed in, cavities or recesses in the under side of the insulator, suitable washers, E, being interposed between the heads of the bolts and the rails.

The cavities G are filled with some insulating and moisture-proof substance, D-as sulphur-which may be poured therein in a molten condition and become hard or set upon cooling.

The insulator is secured to the sleepers or bed of the track by iron or other shoes F, pref erably made in two parts, each part having a dovetail recess, f, which grasp the sides of the insulating-standard and hold it in place.

A wash er, G,of some elastic substance is placed between the shoe and the standard.

It is understood that the exact form of the insulator is not essential to my invention any more than any specific insulating material.

My improvement is more particularly adapted to the third rail of an electric railway, as the mechanical pressure upon such rails is not large, it only being necessary to insure good electric contact between the surface of the rail and the brush, wheel, or other appliancetravcling over such rail; but myimprovementmay be used effectively for the outerrails of a light railroad service.

It will be seen that I an] enabled to insure a constantly-dry portion of the insulator between the rail and the ground, and thus prevent the loss of the electric current.

\Vhat I. claim is- 1. An insulator for rails or conductors, consisting of a standard of insulating material, upon which the rail is placed, provided with holes for the securing-bolts and having cavities in the under side for the reception of a moisture-repelling substance, substantially as described.

The combination, with a shoe made in two parts, of a standard of insulating mate rial supporting a rail, bolts passing through the rail and the standard, and moisturea'epelling substance covering the ends of the bolts, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the two-part shoe, the insulating standard secured therein, the rail upon the standard having an interposed elastic substance, bolts passing through the rail and standard, the nuts in the cavities of the standard securing the bolts, and moisture-repelling substance in the cavities of the insulater, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LEO D AFT.

\Vitnesses:

JNo. N. BRUNS, W. H. JONES. 

